JP2006067445A - Connector lock device for module, and module apparatus for camera using the lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a structure whereby a connector and a module can surely be locked at an ordinary locking and the module can simply be removed from the connector without the need for using a special purpose tool or the like when the module is removed from the connector. <P>SOLUTION: A connector lock apparatus for the module is provided with: a projection 20 provided to the module 11; and a spring hook 18 that is elastically deformed and outwardly escaped when the module 11 is assembled in a hollow part 19 at a side of the connector 12, self-returned to engage with the projection 20 for locking the withdrawal of the module 11 when the module 11 is assembled at a prescribed position, and projected outwardly from the connector 12 at a side of one end opening of the connector 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a module connector locking device and a camera module device using the locking device, and in particular, incorporates various modules such as a memory module or a camera module into a connector and locks the module to the connector. The present invention relates to a module connector locking device and a camera module device using the locking device.

  4 and 5 show an example of a module device using a conventional connector lock structure for a module. FIG. 4 is a schematic front longitudinal sectional view of the module device, and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the module device. 4 and 5, the module device 100 includes a module 101 and a connector 102 that attaches the module 101 to a device.

  The module 101 is a camera module mounted on a mobile phone or the like. The module 101 includes a module main body 103 formed in a substantially square block shape, and a lens unit 104 provided on the module main body 103. Further, in the vicinity of the corner portion of the module main body 103, there are provided engaging portions 107, 107. Further, a substrate 105 is attached to the bottom surface of the module main body 103 with an adhesive 106, and a plurality of contact pads (not shown) serving as contacts are formed on the side surface of the substrate 105 in the vertical direction.

  The connector 102 is for incorporating the module 101 into the connector main body 110 having a hollow-shaped hollow portion 109 with one end open, and an electrical contact between the inner surface of the hollow portion 109 and the contact pad of the substrate 105. Are provided with spring hooks 108, 108... Corresponding to the engaging portions 107 of the module 101. The spring hooks 108, 108... Extend from the shield case 111 attached to the connector main body 110 into the hollow portion 109 so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the connector main body 110 and extend into the hollow portion 109. The free front end side is inclined toward the center of the hollow portion 109 as it approaches the bottom 102a of the connector main body 110, and protrudes toward the center. The free tips 108 a, 108 a... Of the spring hooks 108, 108... Engage with the engaging portions 107, 107..., That is, the upper surface of the substrate 105 when the module 101 is inserted into the hollow portion 109 to a predetermined position. Thus, the module 101 can be prevented from coming off.

  When the module 101 is attached to the connector 102, the module 101 is assembled so as to drop into the hollow portion 109 from the upper side of the connector 102 as shown in FIG. During the assembly, the lower surface of the substrate 105 abuts against the spring hooks 108 and 108. However, if the module 101 is pushed in as it is, the spring hooks 108 and 108 are released to the outside with elastic deformation and allow the module 101 to be pushed in. When the bottom surface of the substrate 105 abuts against the bottom portion 102a in the hollow portion 109 and is pushed to a predetermined position where the contact pad and the contact piece are in contact (contact), the spring hooks 108, 108. Are returned to the engagement portion 107 by the elastic force of the spring hooks 108, 108... By this engagement, the module 101 is prevented from being detached from the connector 102, and the module 101 is locked to the connector 102. FIG. 4 shows this locked state.

  In addition, when the module 101 is removed from the connector 102 after the assembly is completed, for example, a pin is inserted from above the engaging portion 107 and the spring hook 108 is released to the outside on the engaging portion 107 with the pin. When the module 101 is pulled out upward, it can be easily removed.

In addition to this structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, this type of module connector locking device can also be seen in, for example, Patent Document 1.
JP 2004-63425 A

  However, as described above, in the conventional locking device, when the module 101 is removed from the connector 102 after being assembled, for example, a pin is inserted from above the engaging portion 107 and the spring hook 108 is engaged with the pin. The operation of pulling out the module 101 upward is necessary in the state where the module 107 has escaped to the outside. That is, since a pin to be inserted into the engaging portion 107 is required, the pin must always be prepared. This is cumbersome and costly. Further, there is a problem that the removal work cannot be performed when the pins are not prepared.

  Therefore, the technology to be solved in order to achieve a structure in which the lock between the connector and the module is surely secured during normal locking, and the module can be easily removed without using a dedicated tool when removing the module from the connector. The present invention aims to solve this problem.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 includes a module and a connector having a hollow portion with one end opened for incorporating the module, the hollow. A module connector locking device for fixing a module incorporated in a module to the connector, wherein the engaged part provided on the module side and elastically deformed outward when the module is incorporated in the hollow part. A spring hook that self-resets when the module is assembled at a predetermined position and engages with the engaged portion to prevent the module from coming off, and opens the one end of the connector. Provided is a module connector locking device provided on the side and protruding outward from the connector.

  According to this configuration, when the module is assembled into the hollow portion from the portion where one end of the connector is opened, the spring hook is elastically deformed with the incorporation of the module and is released to the outside, thereby allowing the module to be incorporated. The When the module is assembled to a predetermined position, the spring hook self-resets and engages with the engaged portion, and this engagement securely holds the module against the connector. On the other hand, when removing the module from the connector, attach a finger etc. to the spring hook protruding outward and push the spring hook outward in the direction away from the engaged part. In addition, the engagement between the spring hook and the engaged portion can be released. And if it pulls out a module from a connector in this state, it can remove easily.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a module connector locking device in which the connector is formed in a bowl shape having four inner side surfaces, and the spring hook is formed by a part of a shield case covering the outer peripheral side surface of the connector. provide.

  According to this configuration, the spring hook can also serve as a part of the shield case.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the engaged portion is made of a protruding portion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the module, and an engagement hole is provided in the spring hook to insert and engage the protruding portion. A module connector locking device is provided.

  According to this configuration, the engagement lock can be surely performed by the engagement between the module side protrusion and the spring hook side engagement hole.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera module device using the module connector locking device according to the first, second or third aspect.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to obtain a camera module device that can easily and reliably perform locking between the module and the connector.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the module can be securely locked against the connector only by incorporating the module into the hollow portion from the portion where the one end of the connector is opened. On the other hand, if you attach your finger etc. to the spring hook and push the spring hook outward in the direction away from the engaged part, the spring hook is disengaged from the engaged part and the module is removed from the connector. Can do. Therefore, the attaching / detaching operation is simplified.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the number of parts can be reduced by using the spring hook as a part of the shield case. In addition to the effects of the first aspect of the invention, the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced. Become.

  Since the invention according to claim 3 can be reliably locked by the engagement between the projection on the module side and the engagement hole on the spring hook side, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, Reliability is improved.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a camera module device having a lock structure capable of easily and reliably locking the module between the module and the connector is obtained.

  The module connector locking device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments. The purpose of the module side is to ensure that the connector and the module are securely locked during normal locking, and that the module can be easily removed without using a special tool when removing the module from the connector. When the module is assembled in the hollow portion on the connector side, it is released to the outside with elastic deformation, and when the module is assembled in a predetermined position, it is self-reset and the engaged And a spring hook provided on one end open side of the connector and projecting outward from the connector, which engages with a portion to prevent the module from coming off.

  1 and 2 show a module device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical front sectional view, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view. 1 and 2, the module device 10 includes a module 11 and a connector 12 that attaches the module 11 to a device.

The module 11 is a camera module mounted on a mobile phone or the like. The module 11 includes a module main body 13 formed in a substantially rectangular block shape and a lens portion 14 provided on the upper portion of the module main body 13. The module body 13
Protrusions 20 and 20 are provided at the upper central part of the pair of side surfaces 13a and 13b that are opposed to each other, as projecting parts 20 and 20 projecting from the module body 13 outward at substantially right angles. Yes.

  Further, a substrate 15 is attached to the bottom surface of the module main body 13 with an adhesive 16, and a plurality of contact pads 21, 21... Has been.

  The connector 12 includes a resin connector body 22 having a bowl-shaped hollow portion 19 that is open at one end for incorporating the module 11. Further, the bottom 22a of the connector body 22 is cut off in the vicinity of the four sides to form openings 23, 23... 24, 24... (See FIG. 2) are arranged. Further, the four outer peripheral side surfaces of the connector 12 are covered with and integrated with a shield case 27 formed by press-molding a thin metal plate having a spring property into a substantially rectangular tube shape.

  The shield case 27 is connected to the side surfaces 27a and 27b opposite to the side surfaces 13a and 13b provided with the projections 20 and 20 of the module 11, respectively, from the open portion of the upper ends of the side surfaces 27a and 27b. Tongue-like spring hooks 18 and 18 having spring properties are provided so as to extend outward. In addition, the distance L1 between the spring hook 18 provided on the side surface 27a and the spring hook 18 provided on the side surface 27b is between the most distal portion of the protrusion 20 provided on the side surface 13a of the module 11 and the side surface 13a of the module 11. It is formed smaller than the distance L0 with the most advanced part of the provided projection part 20. Further, the tip portions 18a and 18a of the spring hooks 18 and 18 are bent obliquely outwardly, respectively, and the maximum separation dimension L2 of the tip portions 18a and 18a is the forefront of the protrusion 20 provided on the side surface 13a of the module 11. And the tip end portions 18a and 18a are used as push-out guides when the module 11 is assembled. is there. Each spring hook 18 has an engagement hole 17 adjacent to the tip portions 18a, 18a, into which the protrusion 20 can be engaged.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a procedure for incorporating the module 11 into the connector 12 in the module device 10 configured as described above. Next, a procedure for incorporating the module 11 into the connector 12 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the projecting portion 20 of the module 11 and the spring hook 18 on the connector 12 side are made to correspond to each other, and the module 11 is assembled into the hollow portion 19 from the upper side of the connector 12. In the middle of the assembly, the lower surfaces of the tip portions of the projections 20 and 20 abut against the tip portions 18a and 18a of the spring hook 18, respectively.

  However, when the module 11 is pushed in as it is, the spring hooks 18 and 18 receive a force from the projections 20 and 20 side due to the inclination of the tip portions 18a and 18a, and the spring hooks 18 and 18 are elastically deformed to be outside. The module 11 is allowed to be pushed in. Further, the lower surface of the substrate 15 is in contact with the bottom 22a in the hollow portion 19, and the module 11 is in the hollow portion 19 to a predetermined position where the contact pads 21, 21... And the contact pins 24, 24. When pressed, the engaging hole 17 of the spring hook 18 and the protrusions 20 and 20 on the module 11 side correspond to each other. Then, due to the elastic restoring force of the spring hook 18, the protrusions 20, 20 fall into the engagement hole 17 of the spring hook 18 and become engaged. By this engagement, the module 11 is prevented from coming off, the module 11 is locked to the connector 12, and the assembly is completed. FIG. 1 shows a locked state in which this incorporation is completed.

In addition, when the module 11 is removed from the connector 12 in a state where the assembly is once completed, the spring hooks 18 and 18 protruding to the outside of the connector 12 are attached with fingers or the like to be separated from the protrusions 20 and 20, respectively. When pushed outward, the engagement holes 17, 17 of the spring hooks 18, 18 and the projections 20, 20 are disengaged. Then, when the module 11 is pulled out from the connector 12 in this state, it can be easily removed.

  Therefore, the module device configured in this way securely locks the module 11 against the connector 12 only by incorporating the module 11 into the hollow portion 19 from the portion where one end of the connector 12 is open. On the other hand, when the spring hooks 18, 18 are attached to the spring hooks 18, 18 by pushing the spring hooks 18, 18 outward from the protrusions 20, 20 that are engaged portions, the spring hooks 18, 18 are opened. The engagement holes 17, 17 and the projections 20, 20 are disengaged, and the module 11 can be removed from the connector 12. Thereby, attachment / detachment operation can be performed easily. Further, since the spring hooks 18, 18 are formed by a part of the shield case 27, the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones.

1 is a front longitudinal sectional view of a camera module device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The disassembled perspective view of the camera module apparatus which concerns on embodiment same as the above. It is a figure explaining an example of the assembly procedure of the camera module apparatus which concerns on embodiment same as the above, and is a front longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state before incorporating a module in a connector. The front longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conventional module apparatus. It is a figure explaining an example of the assembly procedure of the conventional module apparatus, and a front longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state before incorporating a module in a connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Module apparatus 11 Module 12 Connector 13 Module main body 14 Lens part 17 Engagement hole 18 Spring hook 18a Tip 19 Hollow part 20 Projection part (engaged part)
22 Connector body 27 Shield case

Claims (4)

A module connector locking device comprising: a module; and a connector having a hollow part open at one end for incorporating the module, the module incorporated in the hollow part being fixed to the connector,
An engaged portion provided on the module side;
When the module is incorporated in the hollow portion, it is elastically deformed outward and is released, and when the module is incorporated at a predetermined position, it self-resets and engages with the engaged portion to prevent the module from coming off. With spring hooks to do,
The module connector locking device according to claim 1, wherein the spring hook is provided so as to protrude from one end open side of the connector and outward from the connector.   2. The module connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is formed in a bowl shape having four inner surfaces, and the spring hook is formed by a part of a shield case covering the outer surface of the connector. Locking device.   2. The engagement portion is made of a protrusion protruding outward from an outer surface of the module, and an engagement hole into which the protrusion is inserted and engaged is provided in the spring hook. Or the connector locking device for modules of 2. A camera module device using the module connector lock device according to claim 1, 2 or 3.

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